Learn: CJ 101 Midterm Study Guide

4 Purposes of Police

Enforcing laws, preventing crime, providing services, and preserving the peace.

Actus Reus

The wrongful action.

Bill of Attainder

A legislative act that declares a specific person or group guilty of a crime and imposes a punishment without the benefit of a judicial trial

Case Law

Law established by judicial decisions and precedents in court cases.

Civil Law v. Criminal Law

This type of law deals with disputes between private parties; This other type of law deals with offenses against the state or society.

Classical Criminology

18th-century Enlightenment-era framework that views crime as a product of free will and rational choice, where individuals weigh the potential pleasures and pains of an act, associated with Cesare Beccaria.

Common Law

A legal system where laws are created and shaped by judges and court decisions rather than by written laws passed by a legislature or parliament.

Community Policing

Police need to work more closely with the community and make the

community a true "partner."

Constitutions

Fundamental laws of a nation or state that establish the framework of government and guarantee individual rights (specifically the U.S)

Corpus Delicti (Meaning/Elements)

"The Body of the Crime": Elements necessary to arrest, charge, and

convict a person of a criminal offense.

Crime Control vs. Due Process

Two models of criminal justice: One method focuses on suppressing and controlling crime to protect public safety and social order. The other method focuses on protecting individual constitutional rights and ensuring fair, reliable legal procedures.

Crime Funnel

The process where the number of crimes actually committed far exceeds the number of crimes reported, investigated, and resulting in convictions.

Criminological Theories: Elements

Criminological theories use biological, psychological, sociological, and economic frameworks to explain why individuals commit crimes.

Criminology/Criminologist (Definitions)

Criminology is the scientific study of crime and criminals; a criminologist studies the causes, nature, and control of criminal behavior.

Critical Criminology

The understanding of crime as a product of unequal power dynamics, capitalism, and social conflict.

Dark Figure/Underreporting

The portion of crimes that are committed but never reported to law enforcement.

Deterrence Theory (Specific v. General)

Specific deters the individual offender from reoffending; general deters the general public from committing crimes.

Deviance

Behavior that violates social norms and expectations.

Differences between SRS and NIBRS

This data source only gives FBI counts of crime. The hierarchy rule applies (the 8 major crimes); This other data source collects detailed incident-level data on each crime reported. Much more detailed and informative than the previous data source.

Differential Association Theory

Sutherland's theory that criminal behavior is learned through interaction with others, primarily intimate groups.

Discretion

The power of criminal justice officials to make their own decisions and deciding what to do with their free time based on their judgment rather than following a strict regimen.

Ex Post Facto Law

A law that retroactively changes the legal consequences of actions, relationships, or crimes committed before the law was passed.

Exceptions to Search Warrants

Situations where police can search without a warrant, such as consent, plain view, exigent circumstances, and incident to arrest.

Exclusionary Rule

Rule stating that evidence obtained illegally by police violates the Fourth Amendment and cannot be used in a criminal trial.

Federal Law Enforcement Agencies

Agencies operating at the national level, such as the FBI, DEA, ATF, and U.S. Marshals.

Federalism

A system of government where power is divided between a central national government and state governments.

Felony/Misdemeanor/Other Classifications

Felonies are serious crimes punishable by prison/death; misdemeanors are less serious; infractions usually result in fines.

Feminist Criminology

Perspectives analyzing the role of gender in crime, victimization, and the administration of justice.

Fifth Amendment

Protects against self-incrimination, double jeopardy, and guarantees due process and grand jury indictment.

Folkways, Mores, Taboos

Folkways are everyday customs (e.g., using manners, holding a door open). Mores carry moral significance (e.g., cheating on your partner, using profanity in church). Taboos are deeply prohibited acts (e.g, incest).

Four Sources of Law

Constitutions, statutes, administrative regulations, and case law.

Four types of "Drug Crimes"

Drug-defined crimes (e.g., possession, Sale, etc.), Drug trade crimes (e.g., murders, assaults, etc., related to drugs), Drug-fueled crimes (e.g., violence under the influence of drugs), Drug-motivated crimes (e.g., robbery for drug money, etc.)

Fourteenth Amendment

Applies the Bill of Rights to the states via the Due Process Clause and guarantees equal protection of the laws.

Fourth Amendment

Protects citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures and requires probable cause for warrants.

Grass Eaters/Meat Eaters

Categorization of corrupt police officers: One group accepts payoffs passively, The other aggressively shakes down individuals.

Historical Crime Trends in U.S.

Long-term patterns showing crime rates rising in the 1960s-80s and declining significantly since the 1990s.

Hot Spot Policing

Crime can be greatly reduced by focusing on small locations and

providing police presence to suppress crime

Inchoate Offenses

Crimes that are incomplete, such as attempt, conspiracy, and solicitation. No harm is required in relation to corpus delicti.

Jurisdiction Types

Geographic, hierarchical, and subject-matter jurisdiction defining a court's or agency's legal authority.

Labeling Theory

Individuals persist in crime when

society "labels" them as criminals. A label they are unable to escape, so they instead become it.

Mala in Se/Mala Prohibita

This Latin term describes acts that are wrong in themselves (e.g., murder); This other Latin term describes acts that are wrong because laws prohibit them (e.g., jaywalking).

Mens Rea

The 'guilty mind'—the mental state or intent required to commit a crime.

Miranda v. Arizona/Miranda Warnings

Supreme Court ruling requiring police to inform suspects of their constitutional rights prior to custodial interrogation.

Municipal Police

Local police departments operating at the city or town level.

National Crime Victimization Survey

Annual household survey measuring crimes experienced regardless of whether they were reported to police.

Police Corruption

Misuse of police authority for personal or organizational gain.

Police Ranks

The hierarchical structure of police departments (Commissioner -> Chief -> Colonel -> Commander -> Captain -> Lieutenant -> Sergeant -> Officer)

Positivist Criminology

Perspective arguing criminal behavior is caused by biological, psychological, or social factors outside individual control.

Probable Cause

Reasonable grounds to believe a person has committed a crime, necessary for arrests and search warrants.

Problem-Oriented Policing

Police should focus less on individual incidents and more on how long-

term and chronic problems create multiple incidents

Progressive Policing Models

Reform-oriented policing approaches emphasizing professionalism, crime analysis, and community engagement.

Rational Choice Theory

Theory that criminals weigh costs and benefits before deciding to commit a crime.

Regulations/Administrative Law

Rules and ___________ created by government administrative agencies.

Research Methods in CJ

Systematic techniques used to study crime (e.g., Survey research, meta-analysis, RCT method, quasi-experimental, etc.)

Risk Factors for Offending

Variables that increase the likelihood of criminal behavior (e.g., age, sex, substance abuse, poverty, etc.)

Risk Factors for Victimization

Characteristics or situations increasing the likelihood of being a crime victim (e.g., lifestyle, age, sex, poverty, etc.)

Routine Activities Theory

Theory that crime occurs when a motivated offender, suitable target, and absence of a capable guardian converge.

Self-Control Theory

The theory that crime is a function of opportunity and lack of self-control, low self-control stems from biological reasons and low childhood socialization.

Sheriffs

County-level law enforcement officials who typically oversee county jails, court security, and unincorporated areas. Typically elected.

Sir Robert Peel

Founder of modern policing who established the Metropolitan Police of London in 1829.

Social Bond Theory

The theory assumes that people are naturally motivated to commit crimes to

satisfy their need for gratification.

Social Learning Theory

Theory that criminal behavior is learned through observation, modeling, and reinforcement.

Stare Decisis

A legal principle that once a court has made a legal ruling, it stands as precedent for all future decisions involving similar circumstances. Lower courts are bound; equivalent or higher courts may overturn it.

State Police

Law enforcement agencies operating at the state level with highway patrol and statewide investigative duties.

Statutes/Legislation

Laws enacted by legislative bodies like Congress or state legislatures.

Strain Theory

The theory that crime and rule-breaking happen when people feel a strong pressure because they cannot reach society's goals through legal means.

Substantive Law/Procedural Law

This type of law defines what is legal and defines crimes. This other type of law governs the legal processes and enforcement mechanisms.

Techniques of Neutralization

Rationalizations offenders use to neutralize guilt (e.g., denial of responsibility, denial of injury, denial of victim, etc.)

Three parts of the CJ System

Law enforcement, courts, and corrections.

Three/Four Eras of Policing

Political era, professional era, progressive era (includes homeland security era).

Trait Theory

Theory that biological, psychological, and

personality factors influence

involvement in crime.

Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCR)

FBI program compiling official data on crimes reported to law enforcement agencies nationwide. The project NIBRS and SRS stems from.

Worldviews (Consensus, Conflict, Interactionist)

Three perspectives on how laws and social rules are created: consensus (shared values), conflict (ruling class power), and interactionist (differing groups defining rules).

3 Purposes of Patrol

Deter crime through visible presence, provide a sense of security and order, and be in strategic places to quickly respond to calls for service